Refer to the paradox between the pleasure domes likeness to Eden, and

Refer to the paradox between the pleasure domes likeness to Eden, and

the sin of pleasure. Is Kubla Khan challenging God by recreating heaven,

or is this simply to highlight the God like qualities of Kubla Khan?

The first stanza sets the tone, theme and location of the poem. Most

of this is achieved in the first five lines. The rhyme pattern makes

the first five lines almost independent of the rest of the stanza and

the indentation of the fifth line marks the change in pace that can be

seen between the two halves of the first stanza. Inn the second half

of this stanza, the rhyme scheme is changed and this has a noticeable

effect on the stanza as a whole. It creates a definition between the

broad description of Xanadu in the first half of the stanza, and the

more specific description of the pleasure dome itself in the second

half of the stanza.

The language and sentence structure is of a biblical style. This is a

reference to the holiness of the pleasure dome itself. Words like

“sacred” and “decree” set a specific tone that draws the reader’s

attention to the mystic status and atmosphere of the pleasure dome.

Coleridge wants the reader to realize that the poem is describing

something which does not exist, in a literal sense, on earth. The term

“measureless to man” is used here and repeated later on. It gives the

reader the sense that man does not belong here. Xanadu and the

pleasure dome are beyond man in every way because man needs “measure”

in a broad sense, in order to feel secure, to feel in control. The

caverns are measureless and beyond control.

The sentence structure reinforces this mystic atmosphere. “Where

blossomed many an incense-bearing tree;”, would, in everyday language,

read, “Where ...

... middle of paper ...

... “m” consonant with four different vowel sounds in

order to soften the tone. The soft “m” sound makes the vowel sound of

each word longer, forcing the reader to change to a slower pace.

Coleridge goes on to describe the path of the sacred river, as it

finally meets the ocean. He describes tumult as the river sinks into

the ocean.

The final two lines of this stanza refer back to Kubla Khan and the

reader is left with an image of Kubla Khan hearing voices that

prophesies war. This is another enigma. Thhe reader is never given any

explicit description to Kubla Khan’s reaction to the prophesy of war,

nor are we ever informed of the reason for war. However, it is likely

to be the case that the pleasure dome is responsible for war. Perhaps

Kubla Khan has disturbed the balance by separating the good from the

evil, and recreating his own Eden within the dome.